Chapter 29

CASPIAN'S POV

After leaving Lucy with much reluctance, Caspian decided it was time to go apologize to Annebelle. He felt horrible about the way he acted, for he never imagined himself to be that sort of King to his servants, but something in him was still screaming that he was right in a way. He tried to argue with himself, saying over and over in his head that young hormone driven girls were bound to act this way when they were upset about something, but it just didn't seem to sit well with him. He absolutely knew that Lucy would never act like Annebelle was if something should happen to him, but Lucy was different than most girls. Still, confusion aside, Caspian knew that a man should never speak to a young woman the way he did, even if his gut was telling him that she deserved it. He halted in front of her door, gathering his thoughts and breath, as well as trying to work out something to say, before he gently knocked on the stone door. He heard her bed creak as she got up, and a few seconds later the door creeped open, Annebelle's bright blue eyes peering at him through a small crack she made. Caspian watched her eyes widen, before she made to slam the door in his face. He put his hand to the door to stop her, and gently pushed it open.

"We should talk," he started, leaving the door fully open but remaining standing in the entrance to the room, not wanting to invade any space she may need. She crossed her arms across her chest, giving him look that read fear and hatred at the same time. She seemed to be torn between smacking him and running away. "Bella..."

"You were horrible!" She cried, smacking his arm roughly with a determined look in her eyes. As soon as his eyes shot up to hers, however, she took a few worried steps backward. He groaned.

"I'm not going to hit you, Bells," he whispered. "I came here to apologize. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that," she brushed some hair from her face and nodded her head, as if agreeing with him. Her eyes met his again.

"No you shouldn't have." Caspian took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself for her tone held a twinge of smugness that he couldn't stand.

"I don't believe that I'll ever understand your train of thought with all of this, but I do want you to be happy. If Edmund does that for you, then I hope everything works out with the two of you," Why do I want to bang my head against a wall for saying that? Annebelle just stared at him, a smile slowly rising on her lips. He forced a smile, hoping that everything was alright again.

"So...when is the wedding?" She asked, and Caspian was glad for the change of topic. He could talk about marrying Lucy all day.

"Two days from now," Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped slightly.

"But there's so much to do! Does Lucy even have a dress?" Caspian shrugged, leaning more casually against the doorframe.

"I don't know. I don't care what she wears."

"Well she has to be gorgeous!"

"She already is-" Annebelle rose a hand to stop him, giggling.

"Save the mush for Lucy. That's very sweet, but she really does need a dress. Is it alright if I take her to the royal couturier to have one made?" Caspian thought about it for a second, the last real encounter with Annebelle that Lucy had was when she slapped her. "I'll apologize first," she tacked on. He sighed, relaxing slightly.

"Alright then, you can ask her. I don't suspect she'll be as thrilled as you, she isn't really all that girly," Annebelle giggled at his comment and gave him a brief hug before shooing him out of the room.

"Thanks! I'll go ask her later, right now I'm supposed to be going to meet Edmund." Caspian made a gross face.

"Ew." He dodged her flying hand as she tried to smack him before running away, Annebelle going in the other direction to go find Edmund. He chuckled, shaking his head and walking down the corridor. He smiled when Lucy came into view, and felt warmth course through his veins when she gave him a shy wave and smile, picking up her speed to greet him. When she reached him, his hand immediately snaked around her waist to draw her close and the other tucked a few stray curls behind her ear.

"Hey," he whispered, brushing his lips over her cheek, smiling as the skin heated with her blush. She looped her arms around his stomach and hugged him tightly, standing on her tip toes to peck his lips.

"Hi," she said with a giggle. Did you..?"

"Yes, I apologized. Everything's fine," Lucy sighed in relief. "She's actually planning on apologizing to you and asking you to go get a wedding dress with her. She said she was going to see Edmund first, though."

"Oh well I was just on my way to see Edmund myself, he had Glenstorm come tell me to meet him in his room. I wonder why he wants to see us both at the same time?" Caspian rolled his eyes.

"Perhaps to force you two to talk things out? I don't know, love, why don't you go find out?" She nodded and kissed his cheek quickly before pulling away and making to walk away. He stared after her, smiling at her back before grasping her hand to prevent her from going any further. She turned around with her eyebrows raised.

"Yes?" He pulled her close again, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. When he pulled away, he left his lips a breath away from hers and stared into her eyes.

"In two days you'll be my wife," he whispered. Lucy bit her lip and nodded, kissing his lips sweetly, then pulling away and smiling slyly.

"Aren't you lucky?" She giggled. He rolled his eyes, prodding her side before kissing her one more time on the forehead and shooing her off.

XoXoXoXo

SUSAN'S POV

Staring at her whitened face in the bathroom mirror, Susan tried take deep breaths to calm her racing thoughts. I'm ten days late. That's never happened before, her hands shook as she blinked back worried tears. Not with him, anyone but him. She jumped when she heard a knock on the door. Wiping the stray tears from her cheeks hastily, Susan pulled the door open to see Peter staring back at her.

"Are you alright?" Susan said nothing, but let out a strangled sob before dashing forward into her brothers arms, nearly knocking him off his feet. He was taken aback for a moment, but eventually came to his senses and squeezed her back, rubbing her back as she cried into his neck.

"No," she whimpered, completely hiding her face in his skin, trying to calm herself down with the familiar comfort of her brother's embrace. Unfortunately, it was doing nothing, she was too distraught. "I mean-I d-don't know." He tried to hush her, rocking her slightly.

"He's gone. He's in jail, and he's never getting out. He can't hurt you anymore," he murmured into her ear, holding her tighter. Susan knew that Gerald himself could not hurt her, but she just couldn't bear the idea of carrying his child.

"No! That's not it! I think I-"

"Think you're what?" He encouraged her, drawing her away slightly so that he could properly look at her. Susan seemed to sense that Peter knew what she was going to say. She blinked back a few tears and let out a whimper. "Not that," he pleaded hopefully. When she remained silent, though, his head dropped. "Are you certain?"

"I think so," she strained her throat for any sound to come out. She could barely breathe. She watched her brother's body shake with rage, and leaned forward to rest her head on his chest to calm him. Painfully slow moments passed, in which time Peter got a control on his breathing, and Susan silently cried. Finally, she felt her back warming from the friction her brother was creating as he rubbed her back soothingly.

"Perhaps," he started, and she looked up at him. "I should take you to the doctor, so that we can be sure before we have to tell mother and father anything." Susan nodded thankfully, not wishing to cause her parents any more pain, as they were already in the middle of an inevitably endless missing persons case for both Edmund and Lucy. They didn't need any more to worry about. Susan replaced her head on Peter's chest, basking in the momentary peace and comfort he provided. His breathing seemed to be becoming more ragged, courser. She said nothing, listening closely, wondering why he sounded so unfamiliar. That's when she heard a rumble from behind her that was undeniably not Peter, but someone she would have never expected to be in their upstairs hallway. She heard Peter take in a hiss of air.

"Aslan?" He asked unbelievably, his arms falling from her shoulders. Susan turned around on her heels, not sure if she was dreaming or not. There he was, the great lion whom she thought she would never again see, standing in front of her in her own home. She stirred slightly on the spot, not sure what to do as Aslan looked upon her with an expression completely unreadable. A whish of air blew her hair at her side as Peter darted to the lion in a very Lucy-like manner. Peter stopped just a few inches from the lion, not attacking him, but giving him a questioning look. Aslan nodded with a chuckle, and then Peter fell to his knees before him and his arms were wrapped around his strong neck. "You're here," her eldest brother managed to choke out.

"I am always where I am needed," Aslan said in his familiar wise tone. He wasn't looking at Peter when he said this, though, he was looking at Susan. Peter saw this, and pulled away from him, standing back up to make his way back over to her. He put a hand on her back, gently pushing her forward towards Aslan. She was sort of reluctant, knowing that her relationship with the lion held nothing in comparison to that of her sister's, but she was being pulled to him by an invisible force that knocked her off her feet and had her burying her head in the golden mane.

"Am I?" She asked in barely a whisper, not fully asking the question because she didn't even want to say the word.

"Yes, you are," his answer had her squeezing her eyes shut tight, tears somehow still finding their way down her cheeks.

"I don't think I can do this," she half spoke, half sobbed. How can I even look at my child knowing that it had that monster's blood coursing through it's veins?

"Of course you can, Susan," she heard Peter whisper from behind her. She shook her head into Aslan's soft hair in disagreement. She felt the lion shift slightly.

"The bond between mother and child is too strong to be faltered by such details. Your child is the light in the dark, not something to dread."

"I don't dread him or her. I just am worried. What happens when Gerald eventually pays his time, and gets released, or if he escapes again? If he finds out he has a child, won't he want to come for it? He can't take my baby away from me," she whimpered, still refusing to open her eyes or lift her head.

"If anything as such were to happen, I will be with you and your child and will protect you always. Your faith makes your heart stronger, and just reminding yourself that you are under my eyes will calm you immensely." Aslan finished and Susan sniffled, her tears slowing as well as her breathing. "Everything will be fine," Aslan assured her, nuzzling her side. Susan took in a deep breath, calm washing over her. I'm having a baby, she thought, sheer joy replacing all fear and reluctancy.

"Are Edmund and Lucy alright?" Peter asked, changing the subject to her relief. Aslan smiled.

"They are well. As a matter of fact, your sister will be married in two days," both Susan's and Peter's eyes widened. Peter looked as if he would punch something, and Susan wasn't sure how to feel. I should not be jealous. I chose to leave him, it isn't Lucy's fault, she told herself over and over, slowly starting to agree with herself. She looked over to see Peter's hands shaking.

"Will he treat her right?" Susan giggled at her brother's question, anticipating Aslan's answer.

"Caspian loves Lucy more than life itself, and has already proven to me that he would do anything imaginable for her. I have absolutely no doubt that he will treat her like the Queen that she is." Peter nodded jerkily, his breathing slowing slightly. Susan rolled her eyes leaning against Aslan and closing her eyes. Everything is going to be alright.

XoXoXoXo

LUCY'S POV

Edmund's being real sneaky about this, Lucy thought as she made her way to her brother's bedchamber, still baffled by the thought of him arranging an affair as such, it was completely out of character. Edmund certainly wasn't good with handling the emotions of teenage girls, unless it was Susan or herself. Lucy couldn't fathom why he would want to be there when her and Annebelle talked everything out. Reaching his door, she knocked on it firmly three times and only waited, calling his name out when far too many silent moments passed. I guess he's not in there, she thought annoyingly, rolling her eyes, her brother was always late for stuff. I'll just go find him myself, then. With her decision she walked through the corridors, calling Edmund's name and looking around all of the corners. Passing by a spare room, she heard a male voice, and couldn't tell if it was that of her brother's or not because it was so low. The door was open a few inches, and Lucy doubted anyone needed privacy if they left it open, so she pushed on the stone surface and barged in.

"Edmu-" What the? Before her were Annebelle and David, Annebelle sitting up on a table while David stood in front of her kissing her passionately. The two tore apart at the sound of Lucy's voice, David looked utterly embarrassed while Annebelle looked rather fearful. Lucy staggered slightly, not sure what to do or say, before pure anger burned within her. "What is this? You're dating my brother!"

"What?" David cried, looking from Lucy to Annebelle to Lucy again, surprise and a sense of betrayal on his features. "What the hell, Bella?" Annebelle's lips parted as if she were to say something, but only uttered out a small noise that showed that she was at a loss for words. "I'm out of here," David said, shaking his head at her disappointedly. He walked up to Lucy, bowing lowly. "Forgive me, your majesty. I did not know-" Lucy put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's quite alright," she gave him an apologetic look before he thanked her and walked briskly out of the room, not even sparing Annebelle another glance. The door slammed behind him. Lucy's eyes shot back to the girl, who shook her head as if there was nothing to say. Lucy clenched her fists.

"My brother was wonderful to you, he defended you no matter what."

"Lucy, you don't understand. With everything that's going on, it's hard to-" Lucy growled at her. I've had quite enough of this emotional roller coaster bullshit.

"Listen here, Annebitch. It's Queen Lucy to you, you no longer have the privilege to address me informally. It is obvious that not only did you not love Andrew, but you didn't even care for him. He was merely a passing fancy, just like Caspian, Edmund, and David. There is no saying that you are in "mourning" or that you are an emotional wreck right now, that ship has sailed for you. Caspian was right, you are a complete and total whore! And you will not speak to my brother ever again!" Annebelle's eyes turned to slits as she stood up, making her way across the room to get into Lucy's face.

"You think you're just perfect don't you? That you can have anything you want!"

"I've never said or thought anything remotely close to that. But jealously is truly an evil thing, perhaps you should work on that. Oh, and if you ever touch me again, I'll throw you across this room so hard that you'll break your legs and no longer be able to spread them." Annebelle's jaw dropped just as the door creaked open.

"Lucy?" Edmund's voice sliced through the air. He caught sight of the girls. "Oh, you two are talking." Annebelle let out the most pathetic excuse for a fake cry Lucy had ever heard, rushing across the room and jumping into Edmund's arms.

"She called me a whore too!" She cried. Edmund's eyes widened and he turned to Lucy with a confused expression. Lucy threw her hands in the air in anger.

"Oh do shut up! Edmund, that is true, but only because I caught her snogging David!" Edmund's arms dropped and he took a few steps backward from Annebelle, who was shooting daggers at Lucy with her eyes.

"You can't believe her! She just doesn't like me!" Edmund growled.

"I'd believe my sister over you any day. Get out," he pointed to the door. Annebelle screamed in frustration before storming out of the door positively fuming. Edmund looked after her, shaking his head.

"I'm so sorry," Lucy whispered, walking over to embrace him. He hugged her tightly, resting his chin on top of her head.

"It's alright, I should've known."

"You'll find someone who loves you, Edmund."

"I know," he chuckled. "But for now I don't want to even try to find anyone. I do believe that you need a wedding dress? Lets go get you one," Lucy giggled and nodded as he gave her one last squeeze, before allowing him to lead her out of the room.

You're welcome. Oh and thanks to the reviewer that kept referring to her as "Annebitch," because that was the inspiration for Lucy to call her that haha(: This was my plan all along, and I thought it was so hilarious to see that you all were bashing Annebelle and knew she was bad. Of course I played along and defended her, I had to keep the surprise(: Anyways, the bad thing about this chapter is that there's barely 50 words of Lucian cuteness, and for that I'll be having two more chapters after this instead of one. And now that all of the other issues are resolved those chapters will be solely reserved for mushy gushy sexy Lucian(: Thanks for reading!